Do you really know the difference between rich and poor? Some cannot even imagine that the rich man can spend a year income of a poor man, on one toy. Well these are difference in our society that the author Toni Cade Bambara, wants the reader and character in the short story called The Lesson to realize. “Her short stories best capture people struggling in a day-to-day existence, trying to survive in society, but doing it together. Capitalistic society is what Bambara’s characters are fighting against.” That is the exact atmosphere the author puts the reader and the characters in this short story.
In the short story The Lesson, there are many characters to be glance at, but the most important one is Sylvia. Who is a poor black girl living in ghetto. At the beginning of the story, she was arrogant, narrow-minded and though she was right about everything. Although, Sylvia personality seems to be the same throughout the story, but at the end she starts to show few signs of change. Sylvia goes through learning events that changes her outlook on society and starts to understand the real difference between rich and poor from the help of Miss Moore. Who is another important character in the story. Miss Moore helps Sylvia’s realize the concept of money and having equal rights no matter if you are rich or poor. The main character in The Lesson name Sylvia who is a young black girl, living in poor neighborhood. Since, Sylvia is young; she has not been expose to the real world or different cultures. She hangs out with the same people in her neighborhood because of that; she does not have different perspectives. I would describe Sylvia as “narrow-minded”. According to the Merriam-Webster.com, “narrow-minded” means “not willing to accept opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that are unusual of different from you own”. The main reason why she is narrow-minded is because she only thinks she is right and does not respect others, who are trying to teach her something. For example, Miss Moore, “She 'd been to college and said it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones ' education.” Miss Moore is well-educated elderly woman, who tries to teach kids give real world lessons because “Parents, who live in poverty stricken neighborhoods, are not always the best role models” Instead of learning, Sylvia makes fun of Miss Moore. “And she was always planning these boring-ass things for us to do” . Sylvia is clearly not serious about learning and thinks Miss Moore as her enemy. These are the reason why I think Sylvia is narrow-minded at the beginning of the story. However, she goes to FAO Schwartz, where her main learning process takes place. The big learning for Sylvia takes place when she go see the FAO Schwartz, there she find out the true meaning of equal rights and the real difference of rich and poor. When they arrive, at Fifth Avenue “everybody dressed up in stockings” and “One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy.” Sylvia and the others kids seemed like they have never been outside of their neighborhood or if they have seen the urban part of the city. Because of that, Miss Moore takes the kids to FAO …show more content…
Because of that I choose to use the phrase “on the verge” to describe Sylvia at the end of the story. According to the Merriam-Webster.com the word “verge” means “an area along the edge of a road, path”. In my opinion, this word describes Sylvia the best at the end of the story because there are signs of her understanding the lesson from Miss Moore for example, “think this day through” , and “But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin” . It proves to the reader, that she is on the verge of change and the lessons he learned, while going to the toy store for example, “Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough” . Meaning, whether your rich or poor everyone has equal rights and just because you are poor does not mean you will always stay poor, all it takes is the right attitude and willingness to get out and get
In the short story The Lesson, there are many characters to be glance at, but the most important one is Sylvia. Who is a poor black girl living in ghetto. At the beginning of the story, she was arrogant, narrow-minded and though she was right about everything. Although, Sylvia personality seems to be the same throughout the story, but at the end she starts to show few signs of change. Sylvia goes through learning events that changes her outlook on society and starts to understand the real difference between rich and poor from the help of Miss Moore. Who is another important character in the story. Miss Moore helps Sylvia’s realize the concept of money and having equal rights no matter if you are rich or poor. The main character in The Lesson name Sylvia who is a young black girl, living in poor neighborhood. Since, Sylvia is young; she has not been expose to the real world or different cultures. She hangs out with the same people in her neighborhood because of that; she does not have different perspectives. I would describe Sylvia as “narrow-minded”. According to the Merriam-Webster.com, “narrow-minded” means “not willing to accept opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that are unusual of different from you own”. The main reason why she is narrow-minded is because she only thinks she is right and does not respect others, who are trying to teach her something. For example, Miss Moore, “She 'd been to college and said it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones ' education.” Miss Moore is well-educated elderly woman, who tries to teach kids give real world lessons because “Parents, who live in poverty stricken neighborhoods, are not always the best role models” Instead of learning, Sylvia makes fun of Miss Moore. “And she was always planning these boring-ass things for us to do” . Sylvia is clearly not serious about learning and thinks Miss Moore as her enemy. These are the reason why I think Sylvia is narrow-minded at the beginning of the story. However, she goes to FAO Schwartz, where her main learning process takes place. The big learning for Sylvia takes place when she go see the FAO Schwartz, there she find out the true meaning of equal rights and the real difference of rich and poor. When they arrive, at Fifth Avenue “everybody dressed up in stockings” and “One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy.” Sylvia and the others kids seemed like they have never been outside of their neighborhood or if they have seen the urban part of the city. Because of that, Miss Moore takes the kids to FAO …show more content…
Because of that I choose to use the phrase “on the verge” to describe Sylvia at the end of the story. According to the Merriam-Webster.com the word “verge” means “an area along the edge of a road, path”. In my opinion, this word describes Sylvia the best at the end of the story because there are signs of her understanding the lesson from Miss Moore for example, “think this day through” , and “But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin” . It proves to the reader, that she is on the verge of change and the lessons he learned, while going to the toy store for example, “Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough” . Meaning, whether your rich or poor everyone has equal rights and just because you are poor does not mean you will always stay poor, all it takes is the right attitude and willingness to get out and get